Dobutamine
Dobutamine is a generic medication that’s prescribed for short-term treatment of heart failure. Dobutamine isn’t available in a brand-name version. The drug is given by injection into your vein by a doctor or under the direct supervision of a doctor in a hospital.
Dobutamine is a generic medication that’s prescribed for short-term treatment of heart failure. Dobutamine isn’t available in a brand-name version. The drug is given by injection into your vein by a doctor or under the direct supervision of a doctor in a hospital.
- Generic
- • Solution
- • 10 x 20ml of 250mg/20ml
- • 1 Package
Dosage settings
Set your dosage
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on January 12, 2024
Dobutamine is a generic medication that’s prescribed for short-term treatment of heart failure. Dobutamine isn’t available in a brand-name version. The drug is given by injection into your vein by a doctor or under the direct supervision of a doctor in a hospital.
Read on to learn about dobutamine and cost. If you’d like more information about dobutamine, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Cost
Cost of dobutamine
Like other medications, the cost of dobutamine can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:
- your insurance plan, if you have coverage
- whether dobutamine is covered by your medical insurance
- the cost of having a healthcare professional give you doses of dobutamine
To find out how much dobutamine costs, ask your doctor or insurance provider.
Coupons
Coupons for dobutamine
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of certain medications. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
But coupons aren’t available for medications like dobutamine that are only given by a healthcare professional.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
Available app for coupons
To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.
Insurance and other considerations
Insurance and other considerations for dobutamine
The cost of dobutamine typically is billed through your medical insurance rather than a health benefits policy. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of dobutamine in a hospital. The cost of your doses will depend on your medical insurance coverage.
If you have questions about this, ask your doctor or contact your medical insurance company.
Generics vs. brand-names
Generics vs. brand-names
Dobutamine is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) Dobutamine is based on the brand-name version Dobutrex, which is no longer available.
Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.
FAQ
Common questions about dobutamine and cost
Here are some common questions and answers about dobutamine.
Is dobutamine covered by Medicare?
Possibly. Coverage for dobutamine by your Medicare plan will depend on your specific plan. If you have questions about your Medicare plan covering dobutamine, contact your plan administrator.
Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?
Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.
Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)
This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. So, they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.
If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
What to ask
What to ask about dobutamine
This article provides cost information related to dobutamine. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription.
If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor. You can also contact your insurance company.
Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:
- How many doses of dobutamine will I likely need?
- How much will each dose of dobutamine cost?
- What are my options if I can’t afford my medication?
Resources
Resources
- Dobutamine- dobutamine injection. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/ee09a55f-9992-48bb-b8d6-1184bd548536/spl-doc
- Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
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